Improvement: Another Cosmetic Option for Outfits

[MasterChief096]

So I was thinking about the scale that PlanetSide was and is currently played on while editing my "PlanetSide - Scale" video (stay tuned ) and I remembered how so many outfits fielded hundreds of members, and placed such a high value on rank and what not.

I think it would be cool to allow outfits to attach certain cosmetic "tags" if you will to its members, based on rank if they so chose.

The tags would be empire specific and follow empire theme.

NC would have bandanas similar to guerrilla fighters that could be worn where the outfit wants them to be worn, and can be different colors to signify rank. Players of non-command status could where bandanas tied around their arm or hanging from their necks, whereas commanders for the NC could have a bandana around their head (assuming commanders don't have a helmet on).

TR would use badges and medals that look highly militaristic. The amount of medals, or once again the color of medals could be used to signify rank within the outfit. They could be located on the chest for higher-ups or on the shoulders as well.

I'm having trouble coming up with something the VS could use, that would fit with the theme of progressing the human genome via Vanu technology. I'm going to base my idea off the VS MAX, and how it looks highly alien in nature. Perhaps VS outfits could signify rank via "nodes" if you will that are on either the shoulders, shin pads, wrist pads, or back of a VS soldiers armor. The nodes are just small areas that emit a sort of fluorescent light and the color of the light can be used to signify rank.

Thoughts/criticisms?

[Krowe]

Hmm, I think I'd just like the Outfit insignia on uniforms to be bigger.

Hats and headgear should be part of player customization as a whole.

[DviddLeff]

I always wanted the spare shoulder pad to show the players rank within an outfit.

Even if its the same for all three factions I don't mind, i just want outfit rank shown on characters.

[Atuday]

For VS I direct your attention here >>>> http://eyetap.org/

Behold something cooler than tr goggles for the VS commanders.

That aside I think the things you are imaging will end up being in the store for players to buy. As for how to show rank I still like the idea of having slightly different color armor like we currently do. It makes my job as a sniper so much easier and gratifying when I can look out and see who I should shoot first.

[Talek Krell]

Should probably avoid any indication of rank that has a significant glow, for the effect it will have on night combat. Unless of course there are already elements of armor that glow, but there probably shouldn't be. Or at least make it so you can turn them off or something for the sake of sneaking around...

[Graywolves]

I want a wolf helmet and wolf shoulder pads

[Brusi]

This could be a good idea, if kept kinda subtle.

I know some officers, like raid leaders in other MMO's, put a shitload of time and effort into making sure that outfit operations are successful (and fun). Player distributed rewards can sometimes work in MMO's ;p

This sounds like it should only be available to larger outfits though i think.

Perhaps they could even take the form of rare customisation items that are rewarded initially to outfit leaders for their outfits part in epic battles (and requires leadership 5 cert to equip).

[Sentrosi]

While I don't really have an issue with this per-se, how often in Planetside 1 do we look at the enemy soldier and say to ourselves, "Wow, he's got the 5yr Vet medal!" I'm betting only like 5% of those who read this post even pay it a passing thought. How often do you see our soldiers today wearing their medals while slinging 50lbs of gear advancing into Afghanistan?

What I think would be neat is something like a Dress Uniform that you can put on inside the replacement Sanctuaries. Decorative weaponry (Sword, bandolier, knife, etc) instead of real weapons. This way you can have an awards type of ceremony.

[MasterChief096]

Originally Posted by Sentrosi

While I don't really have an issue with this per-se, how often in Planetside 1 do we look at the enemy soldier and say to ourselves, "Wow, he's got the 5yr Vet medal!" I'm betting only like 5% of those who read this post even pay it a passing thought. How often do you see our soldiers today wearing their medals while slinging 50lbs of gear advancing into Afghanistan?

What I think would be neat is something like a Dress Uniform that you can put on inside the replacement Sanctuaries. Decorative weaponry (Sword, bandolier, knife, etc) instead of real weapons. This way you can have an awards type of ceremony.

Soldiers trekking with 50lbs of gear in Afghanistan is pretty realistic I'd say (as far as real life can be realistic), but PlanetSide is sci-fi and the armor can look sci-fi ish and be less realistic.

There's also the issue of how the outfit customizes this. As an enemy you might see that an outfit is using green, yellow, and red bandanas to signify rank but you have no clue which bandana signifies which rank.

[CutterJohn]

What purpose do 'ranks' in an outfit serve? Theres no shared resources to control that requires trust to aside from invites. There's leader, peon, and peon who can invite/kick.

[Draep]

I plan on having ranks in my outfit that have very defined responsibilities. The lowest rank will be thrown into battle first, and the highest ranked grunts are saved for the critical moments. Your rank of officer class will represent how many troops you may command. Outfit ranks may be especially important once pops are high and outfits field hundreds.

My friend back in the day told me people called him sir, was this ever true?

[Brusi]

there are plenty of PS players that like to RP like they are actually in the military ;p

[CutterJohn]

Originally Posted by Draep

I plan on having ranks in my outfit that have very defined responsibilities. The lowest rank will be thrown into battle first, and the highest ranked grunts are saved for the critical moments. Your rank of officer class will represent how many troops you may command. Outfit ranks may be especially important once pops are high and outfits field hundreds.

You expect people to actually tolerate such restrictions voluntarily? 0_o

Sure in eve you followed the orders of the FC, but there were actual opsec considerations, and a LOT of money on the line. In PS theres none of that. If you die you're out 10 minutes to reform.

Oh well. To each their own.

[Draep]

Originally Posted by CutterJohn

You expect people to actually tolerate such restrictions voluntarily? 0_o

Sure in eve you followed the orders of the FC, but there were actual opsec considerations, and a LOT of money on the line. In PS theres none of that. If you die you're out 10 minutes to reform.

Oh well. To each their own.

Which restrictions do you speak of?

[Grimster]

It would be cool if they made the outfit logo bigger and maybe incorporated some sort of ranking symbols around your logo or under it to signify different ranks within the outfit.